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JONESVILLE — The Tribune sent questionnaires to Jonesville candidates following the close of registration for the November town elections.

In them, candidates were asked general questions about the candidate’s family, education and other biographical information to give voters a brief overview of each of the choices heading into Nov. 5 elections.

Candidates were contacted by the addresses and telephone numbers provided by the Yadkin Board of Elections. Each candidate was contacted multiple times in an effort to have 100 percent participation, and those who were not contacted were mailed a questionnaire to the available address.

Each candidate received the identical questionnaire as the rest. Each question had a limit of 250 words per answer, with The Tribune reserving the right to edit for word count.

Anita Darnell

• Name: Anita Darnell

• Family: Married to Scotty Darnell (No Children)

• Education (include military, if applicable): East Wilkes High School, Wilkes Community College.

• Background: Hotel/Restaurant Management, Business administration.

• Work history: Worked in the hospitality management for 27 years in Jonesville.

• Have you served in political office before? No.

• Why are you running for this office? To give back to a community that has given to me; To help put Jonesville back on the map, a destination for travelers and new comers in our community.

• What do you offer that is unique in the election race? Have worked and or lived in the community for 34 years. Currently serving on several committees such as the Jonesville Business Association, Jonesville Tourism and worked closely with many town citizens and town officials

• What are the biggest challenges facing Jonesville? Our public library, parks, and Greenway, our water system, lack of stable jobs.

• What will be your top three priorities if elected? To get the citizens more involved in our town. Better communications between the citizens and town councils, and to have marketing plan for growth.

• Do you believe the town should be raising taxes now? No times are difficult, we must work smarter to not allow this to happen.

Andy Green

• Name: Andy Green

• Family: Wife of 26 years, Sarcanda Green. One son, Zane Green, a junior at Wingate University

• Education (include military, if applicable): Graduate of East Wilkes High School

• Work history: I grew up in a family general merchandise store business. Worked at Green Valley Farms where I ran a wholesale florist route and sold to retail chains. Currently employed with Cintas Corporation as a service sales rep, I have been with Cintas for 14 years.

• Have you served in political office before? If so, what office did you hold and for how long? Currently serving a four-year term as a Jonesville town commissioner.

• Why are you running for this office? To be involved in the town I reside in and love, and hope to make a difference for the future of Jonesville.

• What do you offer that is unique in the election race? My faith, my youth, and my background in day to day business matters that can help in making the right decisions for Jonesville.

• What are the biggest challenges facing Jonesville? Getting people to stop in Jonesville to visit and stay in our motels, eat at our restaurants and shop in Jonesville. Tourism plays a very important part in our future. Getting the Greenway completed. Getting Boonville connected to our water system would be a very important project.

• What will be your top three priorities if elected? First would be connecting Boonville to our water system. Second would be trying to get our sidewalks updated and hopefully more added. Third, first impressions are hard to overcome, we need to clean up in our town to make it more appealing. There are more things I want to achieve if elected.

• Do you believe the town should be raising taxes now? I have voted not to raise taxes while on the board.

Gene Pardue

• Name: Gene Pardue

• Family: Married – wife and two daughters

• Education (include military if applicable): graduate Jonesville High School, attended Surry Community College, active duty and National Guard six years

• Work History: building contractor

• Have you served in political office before? If so, what office did you hold and for how long? Mayor and commissioner – town of Arlington 1980, Town of Jonesville – commissioner – mayor – pro-tem

• Why are you running for this office? Concern for citizens of Jonesville

• What do you offer that is unique in the election race? Past experience in town government

• What are the biggest challenges facing Jonesville? Infrastructure and jobs for the community

• What will be your top three priorities if elected? Market the town of Jonesville — for new companies

• Do you believe the town should be raising taxes now? No

Jerry Wood

• Name: Jerry Lee Wood

• Family: Living alone

• Education (include military if applicable): Not available.

• Work history: Electronic service

• Have you served in political office before? No.

• Why are you running for political office? Roads in need of repair, water is horrible and the town is “fee” happy (crazy).

• What do you offer that is unique in the election race? Change.

• What are the biggest challenges facing Jonesville? Roads, water and fees.

• What will be your top three priorities if elected? Roads, water and fees.

• Do you believe the town should be raising taxes now? The town needs to stop wasteful spending.

A write-in candidate also contacted the Tribune and requested to be included in the questionnaire forum. To be fair to other write-in candidates the Tribune published an announcement in the Oct. 3 issue to allow other write-ins to contact the Tribune, but none did so.

• Work history: Teaching and education administration 28 years; Marketing and sales five years; Retired (community volunteer) six years.

• Political experience: Member, Jonesville Town Board in the mid-1970s (served as commissioner for finance, recreation and grants writing) for four years.

• Why are you running for this office? I can offer leadership in budget planning, in promoting jobs/economic growth and in representing the concerns of citizens.

• What do you offer that is unique in the election race? Experience as a high school principal and as coordinator for the Jonesville Historical Society with demonstrated success in budget management, grants writing and problem-solving.

• What are the biggest challenges facing Jonesville? Budget/finance, facility use and the delivery of public services.

• What will be your top three priorities if elected? 1) to review cost of services & utilities (i.e., water/sewage bills); 2) to include business & citizen input in decision-making, 3) to write grants to supplement tax base.

• Do you believe the town should be raising taxes now? No.

Reach Taylor Pardue at 835-1513 ext. 15 or tpardue@civitasmedia.com.

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